Cabinet structure



Oct. 11, 1966 A. E. CYRUS 3,278,065

CABINET STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 27, 1964 Fig. I.

INVENTOR. A lvo E. Cyrus m: FM

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,278,065 CABINET STRUCTURE Alva E. Cyrus, Prairie Township, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric tcorporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 347,889 Claims. (Cl. 220-9) This invention relates to insulated refrigerator cabinets, and more particularly to means for preventing liquid from entering the insulated space between the outer shell and the inner liner of such cabinets.

One of the problems frequently encountered in refrigerator cabinet manufacture, is that of preventing the seepage of liquid into the area provided for the insulating material. Liquid sometimes collects on the bottom wall of the food liner due to spillage, or condensation, and may collect adjacent the front opening of the food compartment, from where it enters the insulated space by flowing between the breaker strip and the peripheral edge of the food liner. The ingress of liquid to the insulated space is highly undesirable, as it is essential that the insulating material be kept dry to preserve its insulating properties, and in addition, such moisture may produce harmful interior rusting of the refrigerator cabinet walls, or may result in unpleasant odors if the liquid is milk or the like.

This problem is especially prevalent in refrigerators of the manual defrost type where insufficient frequency of defrosting produces excessive amounts of defrost water on the lower liner wall.

Heretofore, attempts to seal the joint between the breaker strip and inner cabinet liner have been directed toward using various sealing compounds and mastic in combination with various breaker strip designs. These attempts have not been entirely satisfactory, due to the difficulty in obtaining a liquid tight seal between the resilient breaker strip and the rigid cabinet wall when employing mass production techniques of refrigerator fabrication.

The present invention therefore has as an object to provide a refrigerator cabinet having a novel sealing arrangement between the inner liner shell and the outer cabinet shell.

Another object of the invention is to prevent the entry of liquid between the inner liner shell and the outer cabinet shell in a refrigerator cabinet.

These objects of the invention, and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by providing a relatively thin pliable sheet of plastic material in combination with a resilient breaker strip to effectively seal the space provided for insulating material between the inner liner shell and the outer cabinet shell.

In providing a refrigerator cabinet according to the teachings of the present invention, an inner liner shell is nested in the cabinet shell in the usual manner with insulating material disposed therebetween. The peripheral edge of the inner shell member is spaced from the peripheral edge of the outer cabinet shell, providing a gap therebetween, which gap is covered or bridged by a resilient breaker strip. However, prior to installation of the breaker strip a pliable sheet of watertight plastic material is disposed between the insulation material and the bottom wall of the liner shell. The pliable sheet extends across the gap and is disposed adjacent the outer edge of the cabinet shell. The breaker strip is installed adjacent the peripheral edge of the cabinet shell with the pliable sheet between the breaker strip and the shell peripheral edge.

With the breaker strip and pliable sheet so disposed, liquid entering the joint between the breaker strip and the peripheral edge of the liner shell is deflected away from the insulating material and is directed between the pliable sheet and the breaker strip at the peripheral edge of the cabinet wall. Any liquid flowing between the breaker strip and the outer cabinet shell is directed harmlessly down over the outer cabinet wall having been prevented entry to the space between the inner shell and outer shell by the pliable plastic sheet.

The several objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective elevational view showing a refrigerator cabinet having the invention employed therein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1 showing details of the structure;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing various elements of the structure during fabrication; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 but showing various elements of the invention during another stage of fabrication.

Although the principles of the invention are broadly applicable to refrigerated cabinet structures, the invention has been herein illustrated in an upright refrigerator cabinet of the domestic type, and will be so described.

Referring to the drawings, especially FIG. 1, there is shwn an upright domestic refrigerator cabinet 10 having an outer cabinet shell 11 and a front opening inner liner shell 12 nested therein. As best shown in FIG. 2, the inner shell 12 has a bottom wall 13 and a peripheral edge 14 disposed above and inwardly with respect to a peripheral edge 16 of the outer cabinet shell 11. The peripheral edges 14 and 16 are disposed in spaced relation providing a gap therebetween, which gap is bridged by a resilient breaker strip 17 (FIG. 4). One edge of the breaker strip 17 has an outer leg 18 and an inner leg 19 contacting the peripheral edge 16 in locking engagement. The other edge of the breaker strip 17 is located adjacent the peripheral edge 14, and an inwardly extending web 21 is located adjacent the peripheral edge 14 to provide locking engagement therewith.

It will be noted in FIGS. 2 through 4, that the location of the inner liner shell 12 relative to the cabinet shell 11 provides an insulating space therebetween, which space is provided with an insulating material such as glass wool, or other suitable materials which are well known to those familiar with the art.

The structure so far defined is not novel to the present invention, but has been chosen as being representative of a refrigerator cabinet in which the present invention is employed.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 through 4, it will be seen that a relatively thin, pliable sheet of waterproof material 23 is located adjacent the bottom wall 13 and between the latter and the insulating material 22 therebelow. The waterproof sheet 23 may be of polyethylene or similar material and may have a thickness of approximately .005 inch or less.

As best shown in FIG. 3, in assembling the cabinet 10, the sheet 23 has a portion disposed adjacent the outer surface of the peripheral edge 16 and extends across the gap between the peripheral edge 16 and the edge 14, inwardly between the insulating material 22 and the inner shell 12. The sheet 23 is installed prior to installation of the breaker strip 17 and extends across the full width of the bottom wall 13, and preferably extends upwardly along both side walls for a short distance.

As in shown in FIG. 4, the breaker strip 17 is installed with the outer leg 18 and the inner leg 19 in locking engagernent with the peripheral edge 16 of the cabinet outer shell 11, with the forward edge of the sheet 23 enclosed therebetween. The sheet 23 is now trimmed along the edge of the leg 18 (FIG. 2) to present a pleasing appearance to the finished cabinet structure.

It has been found that the use of polyethylene or similar material for the sheet 23 permits the use of a fine tipped soldering iron to effectively trim the plastic sheet. The relative mass differential between the thin sheet 23 and the breaker strip 117 permits the sheet of polyethylene to be very efiiciently melted, without marking or scorching the material of the breaker strip, and without scoring the finish on the outer cabinet shell 11.

With the structure shown in FIG. 2, any liquid collecting on the bottom wall 13 of the shell 12 is provided with a source of seepage between the breaker strip 17 and the peripheral edge 14 should the liquid buildup reach that point. The liquid is substantially deflected away from the insulating material 22 by the plastic sheet 23. After contacting the plastic sheet 23, the liquid flows downwardly thereover to a point adjacent the inner leg 19 of the breaker strip 17, from which point it flows between the plastic sheet 23 and the breaker strip outer leg 18. Therefore, liquid entering the insulating space does not contact the insulation 22, but is directed harmlessly across the gap between the peripheral edge 14 of the inner liner shell, and the peripheral edge 16 of the cabinet shell, and flows harmlessly downwardly over the front of the outer shell 11.

With the increased sealing quality provided by the plastic sheet 23, it has been found that an opening 24 should be provided in the cabinet outer wall 11 to serve as a vent. This opening 24, or vent, permits any water which might accumulate in the insulation from any other source to escape, and at the same time allows the insulation to breathe, thus assuring dryness. As shown in FIG. 2, a metal cap 25 is provided adjacent the opening 24 for appearance purposes. The cap 25 is held in place by a pair of spring clips 27 which permit sufficient clearance between the shell 11 and the cap 25 to provide for venting therebetween.

While the invention has been shown in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator cabinet comprising an outer shell member,

an inner shell member nested in said outer shell member in spaced relation thereto,

insulating material disposed between said inner shell member and said outer shell member,

a peripheral edge of said inner shell member and a peripheral edge of said outer shell member being disposed in spaced relation defining a gap therebetween,

a breaker strip disposed across said gap and having one edge in locking engagement with said peripheral edge of said outer shell member and an opposite edge in contact with said inner shell peripheral edge, and

a pliable sheet of waterproof material having a portion retained between said outer shell peripheral edge and said one breaker strip edge,

said sheet extending across said gap and between said inner shell member and said insulating material.

2. An upright refrigerator cabinet comprising an outer shell having a front opening,

an inner shell nested in said outer shell in spaced relation thereto and having a front opening,

insulating material disposed between said inner shell and said outer shell,

a peripheral edge of said inner shell adjacent said front opening being disposed above and in spaced relation to a peripheral edge of said outer shell, said peripheral edges defining a gap therebetween,

a resilient breaker strip disposed across said gap and having one edge in engagement with said peripheral edge of said outer shell and an opposite edge in contact with said inner shell peripheral edge, and

means disposed across said gap for deflecting liquid away from said insulating material and directing liquid between said one edge of said breaker strip and said outer shell peripheral edge.

3. An upright refrigerator cabinet comprising an outer shell having a front opening,

an inner shell nested in said outer shell in spaced relation thereto and having a front opening,

insulating material disposed between said inner shell and said outer shell,

a peripheral edge of said inner shell adjacent said front opening being disposed above and in spaced relation to a peripheral edge of said outer shell and cooperating therewith to define a gap therebetween,

a resilient breaker strip disposed across said gap and having one edge in engagement with said peripheral edge of said outer shell and an opposite edge in contact with said inner shell peripheral edge, and

a pliable sheet of plastic material having a portion disposed adjacent an outer surface of said outer shell peripheral edge between said breaker strip and said peripheral edge,

said sheet extending across said gap and between said inner shell member and said insulating material,

whereby leakage of liquid between said inner shell peripheral edge and said opposite edge of said breaker strip is deflected away from said insulating material by said plastic sheet.

4. An upright refrigerator cabinet comprising a box like shell having a front opening,

an inner box like shell nested in said outer shell in spaced relation and having a front opening,

insulating material disposed between said inner shell and said outer shell,

a peripheral edge of said inner shell adjacent said front opening being disposed above and rearward of a peripheral edge of said outer shell in spaced relation thereto and defining a gap therebetween,

a breaker strip disposed across said gap and having one edge in engagement with said peripheral edge of said outer shell and an opposite edge in contact with said inner shell peripheral edge and a pliable sheet of waterproof material having a portion disposed adjacent an outer surface of said outer shell peripheral edge between said breaker strip and said peripheral edge,

said sheet extending across said gap and between said inner shell member and said insulating material,

whereby leakage of liquid between said inner shell peripheral edge and said opposite edge of said breaker strip is deflected away from said insulating material by said sheet.

5. An upright refrigerator cabinet comprising a box like shell member having a front opening,

an inner box like shell member nested in said outer shell member in spaced relation thereto,

insulating material disposed between said inner shell member and said outer shell member,

said inner shell member having a bottom wall,

said bottom wall having a peripheral edge adjacent said front opening and disposed above and rearward of a peripheral edge of said outer shell member in spaced relation, said peripheral edge defining a gap therebetween,

a breaker strip bridging said gap and having one edge adjacent said outer shell member,

said one edge having an outer leg disposed on an outer surface of said outer shell member and an inner leg disposed on an inner surface of said outer shell member providing a locking engagement be tween said breaker strip and said outer shell member said breaker strip further having an opposite edge in contact with said inner shell peripheral edge, and

a pliable sheet of plastic material having a portion disposed between said outer leg of said breaker strip and said outer shell,

said sheet extending across said gap and between said inner shell bottom wall and said insulating material,

whereby liquid flowing from said bottom wall and leaking between said inner shell peripheral edge and said breaker strip opposite edge is caused to flow between said outer leg of said strip and said sheet by being retained on the upper surface of said sheet.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,753,567 4/1930 Geyer.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

J. R. GARRETT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A REFRIGERATOR CABINET COMPRISING AN OUTER SHELL MEMBER, AN INNER SHELL MEMBER NESTED IN SAID OUTER SHELL MEMBER IN SPACED RELATION THERETO, INSULATING MATERIAL DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID INNER SHELL MEMBER AND SAID OUTER SHELL MEMBER, A PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID INNER SHELL MEMBER AND A PERIPHERL EDGE OF SAID OUTER SHELL MEMBER BEING DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATION DEFINING A GAP THEREBETWEEN A BREAKER STRIP DISPOSED ACROSS SAID GAP AND HAVING ONE EDGE IN LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID OUTER SHELL MEMBER AND AN OPPOSITE EDGE IN CONTACT WITH SAID INNER SHELL PERIPHERAL EDGE, AND A PLIABLE SHEET OF WATERPROOF MATERIAL HAVING A PORTION RETAINED BETWEEN SAID OUTER SHELL PERIPHERAL EDGE AND SAID ONE BREAKER STRIP EDGE, SAID SHEET EXTENDING ACROSS SAID GAP AND BETWEEN SAID INNER SHELL MEMBER AND SAID INSULATING MATERIAL. 